News Details

Gov. Rauner announces appointments to Mahomet Aquifer Task Force

12/21/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner made appointments to the Mahomet Aquifer Task Force, which has been charged with protection of the Mahomet Aquifer, a primary source of drinking water for 500,000 central Illinois residents.

The aquifer provides 53 million gallons of water each year to 120 public water systems and helps supply water for rural wells. The Mahomet Aquifer Task Force was developed through legislation (Senate Bill 611) signed into law by the governor Aug. 25.

“I am ecstatic for all these appointments, and I appreciate the governor considering recommendations from myself and state Sen. Scott Bennett,” said state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who also will serve on the task force. “This talented group of people ensures central Illinois has great representation on the Mahomet Aquifer Task Force.

“I want to thank the governor for being proactive on this issue,” he added. “I look forward to our first meeting.”

The Mahomet Aquifer Task Force was established to develop a plan to maintain groundwater quality; determine potential and current contamination threats; determine any action to be taken to protect the Mahomet Aquifer; and develop legislative recommendations that would help protect the Mahomet Aquifer in the future.

By law, the task force includes two members who represent a national waste and recycling organization, one from a statewide environmental organization, three from a nonprofit consortium dedicated to the sustainability of the aquifer, one representing the Illinois State Water Survey of the Prairie Research Institute of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, one pipe trades association representative, one from the Illinois Farm Bureau, one from a statewide manufacturing trades association, one from a local community health care organization, seven from local government bodies whose territories are over the aquifer and one representing a statewide business association that focuses on environmental issues.

Legislators representing each caucus have also been appointed by the four legislative leaders to serve on the task force, including Senator Chapin Rose, Senator Scott Bennett, Representative Carol Ammons, and Representative Bill Mitchell.

The task force must submit its report and solutions to the General Assembly by July 1, 2018.